Schools wait on labour board decision

MIDHURST – Administrators of the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) were sitting on their hands waiting for a ruling from the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) late Thursday afternoon regarding a one-day walkout by elementary teachers on Friday, Jan. 11.
Earlier in the day, the SCDSB received correspondence from George Zegarac, deputy minister of education, confirming the Ministry of Education considers the teacher walkout an illegal strike.
Ministry of education and EFTO officials began meeting with OLRB conciliators in Toronto at 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon to present their arguments.
Patrick Kelly, vice chairperson of the OLRB, is supervising the proceedings.
“It is our hope that a decision will be reached quickly by the OLRB in order to prevent an illegal strike from happening on Friday,” Zegerac wrote.
That decision was not reached by the end of business hours Thursday.
Should the labour board side with the government, Zegarac asks the SCDSB “to bring this decision to the attention of any employee or union official who may be affected by the situation… In addition, in the interest of stability and certainty for parents, I’m asking that you please share on your website or through your other communications channels to parents and students. I expect you to have a protocol in place to be able to quickly communicate any further developments to employees and parents.”
If the walkout occurs, elementary teachers will not picket outside schools, EFTO has said. Members will gather outside the offices of MPPs who voted for Bill 115 in 2012.
To dispel any confusion, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board sent out a media release late Thursday afternoon reminding parents and students that their elementary schools will be open on Friday.